Big Leaguers Notebook: June 23

Heisey blasts three homers versus Yanks

 Reds outfielder Chris Heisey learned that when you hit a hat trick's worth of homers, you get a curtain call (MLB.com). Oh, and a pie to the face. (FOXSports.com)

 First-time hunter B.J. Upton is about to earn his lifetime membership to the Tampa Bay Rays Outdoorsman Club, after getting talked into a crossbow boar-hunting expedition with teammate Evan Longoria and bench coach Dave Martinez. "I said it kinda joking around at first, then [Dave] went and got me camo boots and all of that, so I'm going," said Upton of the adventure. "I don't know what I'm going
for, I'm just going." (St. Petersburg Times). Maybe Upton should get some hunting and fishing advice from Pirates pitcher Daniel McCutchen. (Twitter)

 Grab some popcorn and check out these plays: Torii Hunter robbed a blast from Gaby Sanchez and stuck the crash landing (MLB.com), and Hanley Ramirez conquered the tarp monster (MLB.com). Hideki Matsui said "No souvenir for you!" (MLB.com), and Jordan Schafer got nothin' but glove from Jose Bautista (MLB.com).

 Chicks dig the long ball, the groundball (Peter Moylan) and, thanks to David Price, the base-on-balls/slide-into-second-base combo (Twitter). "Yeah that was awesome," said the Rays ace, proudly showing off where he scraped his knee on the slide. "I got some [blood] on my pants. I played today." (ESPN.com)

 Cubs players Ryan Dempster, Marlon Byrd and Darwin Barney added their voices to the 'It Gets Better' campaign by speaking out in
support of LGBT youth. (ItGetsBetter.org)

 Rookie Evan Scribner is both a Padres pitcher and a Yoda jedi-in-training. (FOXSports.com). Carry Red Bull and candy out to the bullpen, you will. (Hartford Courant)

Tweet of the Day: "Should I challenge the USA soccer team to a FIFA match?!?!! They staying at out hotel!! Me and tim Howard was just in the elevator together!" -- Rays starter David Price (@DAVIDprice14)

Quote of the Day: "That's an interesting question." -- White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. After being comically bestowed with the title of "the most interesting baseball player in the world" by teammate Gordon Beckham, the slugger was required to use the phrase to answer the first media question he received. (Chicago Tribune)

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.